John Wayne Gacy – The MC Type (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

There was a time when rap music was based on qualities such as lyrical eloquence, deft and dexterous deliveries, humourous wordplay and clever phrasing, a neat blend of pun and poise, insightfulness and depth. Of late, the rap realms seem awash with mumbling bedroom rappers delivering near-incoherent lines about haters, money, the game, and the hustle, seemingly more often than not from their bedroom in their parent’s house in leafy, suburban Connecticut. (Keeping it real, maaaan, as I believe the kids say.) Thankfully, The MC Type is here to redress the balance.

Another song from his album, Lucky Silverback, John Wayne Gacy, is another salvo of smart deliveries, humourous cultural references, confident sonic strides and truly poetic wordage. The clever thing with The MC Type is that he can talk about the same landscape as those wannabe creatives mentioned above, but instead of looking to play the victim, spout about how put upon he is, how he is here to play the part of the underdog, how everyone is on his case and out to get him, instead he finds the humor in everything. Humour? You remember humour, right? The MC Type certainly does.

This is the rapscape I remember, when artists could say something poignant while cracking a joke, when the music found there bordered on satire, and when wisdom was wrapped up in wit. Maybe we can return to such enlightened times. Perhaps The MC Type is a sonic prophet sent to lead us back to that promised land. Then again, it’s not all about prophets, right?